Police told to delay Tablighi Jamaat chief’s arrest in view of possible violence

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 5

Noting that violence would be the last thing that the establishment would want to have at this juncture, senior security officials indicated that the forces on the ground have been advised to delay arresting Mohammad Saad, the Amir (head) of the Tablighi Jamaat, that has emerged as a corona hotspot.

Noting that the possibility of violence by Jamaatis cannot be ruled out if Saad is arrested now, a top official in the security establishment said, “As it is, the followers of Tablighi are getting increasingly aggressive in their behaviour. They are misbehaving with the medical staff and the cops.”

Since the police action at the Markaz in Nizamuddin locality here in view of it becoming the hotspot of coronavirus, Mohammad Saad immediately went into hiding and claimed he had quarantined himself.

According to intelligence sources, Saad is making full use of the “quarantine period” to muster support for himself among the Jamaatis, who are being whipped by police to isolation centres to avoid spread of the infection.

Intelligence sources, who are working in coordination with the police, said that Saad could probably be hiding in the house of one of his supporters in the NCR region.

The police forces have been asked to keep close vigil on his all possible hideouts, which includes his residence here in Zakir Nagar locality.

But the forces have been told not to zero in on Saad for the time being.

Saad in an audio message claimed that he has quarantined himself, as doctors have asked him to do so, but it still not known whether he has been tested positive for COVID-19.

The notice sent to Mohammad Saad with 26 questions has been returned—mostly unanswered—with a statement that said that he will answer the question after his quarantine period is over and the Markaz is opened, the official in the security establishment said.